Harvest Management of Columbia Basin Salmonids

Columbia basin salmon and steelhead are harvested in a variety of ocean, mainstem, and terminal fisheries managed by different jurisdictions through different processes.  Over time, these processes have become more closely coordinated and sometimes linked. Fisheries have changed over time to incorporate more abundance based systems often based on variable harvest rates.  Abundance based frameworks can provide benefits both to fisheries and to weak stocks. These systems depend on reliable forecasts and many times accurate in-season run size updates.  Monitoring and evaluation of fisheries has become more complex with needs to track allocation agreements and impacts both on managed stock groups and ESA listed fish.  Strong co-management relationships between tribes, states, and the federal government are key to maintaining sustainable fisheries and fisheries that are compatible with overall salmon and steelhead recovery efforts.